How will we live together?
If we all lived on equilibrium…
Last month, expression of interest for the Venice Architecture Biennale 2020 was released to the architecture community. Under the theme of ‘How will we live together?’, it was an extremely enticing and straightforward topic. Albeit, having entered a few competitions now – the level of depth and overthinking of the conversation is challenging but exciting.
We can look at this philosophically, pragmatically, utopically, optimistically otherwise realistic perspective. Following from this year’s announcement for Venice Architecture Biennale’s main brief “How will we live together?” has made me raise eyebrows at the sentence. In many ways – although not religious, I can’t help but think of the scene where Jesus feeds the five thousand. There is some irony to the thought of questioning how architecture or through architecture how do we demonstrate the possibility of everyone living together.
Perhaps we need to begin to unpack the concept of ‘living together’ – whether we are talking about the family, general population, the community, otherwise the seven billion people living on planet earth today. Personally, I’d like to explore the project on the three varying scales for us to grasp the concept of the project, let alone understand the severity and the future of our lifestyle. Moreover, when the media coverage is focusing on the future of our planet – it presents two kinds of options of exploration: should we look at this topic holistically or as individual case studies?
Personally, sometimes I find it is easy to be enticed into the obvious route of tackling the larger scale issues – however, I feel that there are other areas that I would like to explore. Below some are the brief case studies that I would’ve liked to tackle under the umbrella of “How will we live together” – I’ve split it into two parts for now, considering that the broadness of this topic has opened a table of food for thought.
1. Living together – which means we need to learn to respect each other.
If we all lived on equilibrium…
That was the very first sentence of my prose in response to the question.
The brief immediately catalysed the thought of everyone living equally. We’ve already seen it in countless movies, novels, graphic novels that depicts the world of ‘utopia’ which ultimately descends into dystopia. When social and financial differences comes into effect – it really distinguishes our attitudes towards one another.
Looking back on my final year in Master of Architecture, I was perplexed and overwhelmed by the future of public housing – especially the confronting design of designers and developers deliberately adding walls and barriers to distinguish the housing and non-housing commission residents. It is sad, to think that ultimately at the end of the day it is the amount of money is what we are after – because that is what society thrives on, being financially supported to continue each day in the best conditions. Moreover, the presence of the barrier could also potentially pose another psychological damage to resident’s mentality and well-being.
Consider how some would feel should they be treated as outsiders.
Consider the side effects of isolation and ignorance.
Ultimately, when we place a barrier that separates us directly, it is blocking another chance, another opportunity for different parties to learn and understand about each other more. We need to work with other communities, build up our understanding about each other.
Most importantly, we need to build up respect for each other – that is the epitome of equilibrium.
Some say that it takes seven generations to heal a trauma…
2. The scars and trauma that has left been left in generations after generations
Living together also means that we are challenged with the issue of putting our differences aside. Watching the current affairs of warfare catalysed by various reasons. Whether it’d be religion, political views or cultural views – it can affect the relationship between others. When emotions and belief get the better of us, we sometimes lose sight of the importance of listening, caring and be thoughtful of others.
How we can demonstrate the conflict and resolution via architecture would be interesting. Frankly I believe that to be able to understand the clash of views and cultures would mean a collaboration with different design parties. Involving different techniques to provide a narrative would expand on the message of different views for different interpretations.
3. Learning to live in harmony with what we’ve created, used, wasted, recycled
Visiting the Venice Biennale three years ago, I was awestruck by the entrance to the installation. Hanging from the ceiling were the remnants of the previous Biennale. Thinking back to the amount of waste, and with the recent news of the Amazon Forest fires, it makes you think how do we live together with the future of our planet? There is a certain level of irony that we are designing an installation that challenges the future of living with out environment. If we think about the production cost, energy consumption that has been placed into making the installation possible.
While some could argue that if we design something sustainably, it should bare not issues. Although, it is the aftermath of the installation – is it recyclable? Is it reusable? Is it practical for others to learn about the messages afterwards?
Otherwise, to learn to live with how we would accept the future of our planet would mean that the conversation would need to be confronting. It may be borrowing the principles of Konmari, otherwise be as confronting as Benjamin Von Wong’s installation on waste. How much does it take to create something that is confronting that it would shift a person’s attitude?
About the Venice Architecture Biennale
The Venice Architecture Biennale is a bi-annual festival that invites countries to create an installation in response to a singular brief. Each installation’s response can vary in scale or presentation medium.
The 17th Venice Biennale’s topic will be focusing on the question of ‘How will we live together?’ and is curated by Hashim Sarkis, Principal Architect of Hashim Sarkis Studios. More information can be found on the Venice Biennale’s website.